 With record-high unemployment rates across the nation and
higher-than-national-average unemployment rates in Logan County, the
chamber board of directors felt that hosting this event was an
important objective for the 2009 year. The goal is to reach out to
those who are looking to enter the job market for the first time and
to those who need to re-enter the job market. With the economy in
this troubled state, some people are finding themselves in
unfamiliar territory. The woman who now needs to work after years of
being a stay-at-home mom, the machinist who finds himself applying
for jobs after seven years with the same company, the high school or
college student looking to enter the job force for the first time
can all benefit from the event.
The Workforce Readiness Expo is a series of four workshops on
resume and cover letter writing, navigating and completing online
applications, interview skills, and self-marketing. Each workshop
will be offered in two or three different 45-minute time slots
throughout the morning. Participants will have the opportunity to
attend at least three out of four workshops. In addition to these
educational sessions for participants, there will be resource booths
with representatives from Illinois workNet Center, Lincoln College,
Lincoln Christian College, Heartland Community College, Manpower and
Global Tech, a new HVAC school opening in Lincoln this May.
"The concept for this event came out of our strategic planning
process with our board in January 2009," said Andi Hake, executive
director of the chamber of commerce. "Cody Atkins, general manager
of Wal-Mart, led the steering committee in our planning efforts.
This event truly could not be possible without the help of our
partners, which are Wal-Mart, Eaton, Heartland Community College,
Inland Tool Co., Illinois workNet, Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital, Lincoln & Logan County Economic Development Partnership,
and the Lincoln Park District."
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The Workforce Readiness Expo is free to the public, with free
baby-sitting for 3- to 12-year-old children of parents attending
workshops. Refreshments will be served all morning. No
preregistration is required. Anyone with questions can contact the
Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce at 217-735-2385 or
chamber@lincolnillinois.com.
The Workforce Readiness Expo is an important part of the vision
of the chamber to be the advocate for business by providing
leadership, programs and services that create, protect and enhance
the business environment for the benefit of chamber members, Lincoln
and Logan County.
[Text from file received from the
Lincoln/Logan County
Chamber of Commerce]
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